Musharraf charged with Benazir murder

A Pakistani court Tuesday charged former military ruler Pervez Musharraf with the 2007 murder of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, an unprecedented move against an ex-army chief.
It is the first time a head of Pakistan’s army has been charged with a crime, challenging beliefs that the military is immune from prosecution and threatening to fan tensions with civilian institutions.
While murder will be difficult to prove, it may embolden efforts to try Musharraf for treason for seizing power in 1999 and for violating the constitution by sacking judges and imposing emergency rule in 2007. Treason can carry the death penalty.
Musharraf appeared in court on Tuesday to deny the charges against him. “He was charged with murder, criminal conspiracy for murder and facilitation for murder,” public prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar told AFP.
The 70-year-old retired general’s brief appearance was accompanied by massive security. He was protected by scores of officers and roads leading to the court were shut down.
Raza Bokhari, a spokesman for Musharraf, dismissed the indictment as “false, fabricated and fictitious” and “an undignified attempt to smear the honor and integrity of the former president.” Musharraf’s defense lawyer Syeda Afshan Adil said: “We are not afraid of the proceedings. We will follow legal procedures in the court.”